Am I understanding right on half-shafts?

[PonypuffPrincess]

2007 Jeep Liberty with Selec-Trac. 105k miles.

Am I understanding right in that I can take out one or both half-shafts for diagnostic purposes and not lose diff oil?

Can I take out 1 side and drive a short distance? Or does it cause spider gears to spin and diff to go crazy?

I have a front and center roaring noise that sounds like mudder tires no matter what accel/decel or turning direction. Its constant and directly related to ground speed.

Removed the front prop shaft first. NO difference.

So.. can I take out the half-shafts one at a time to Dx shaft vs wheel bearing?

Thanks guys.

 

[CactusJacked]

Mine made a roaring noise like you describe, even with the front driveshaft removed. Ended up being a worn intermediate shaft (see pic), it's on the passenger side. From the front, take a look at the inner passenger side cv hub. Does it look like it's leaning noticeably downhill compared to the axle housing? Grab the hub and try to push it up and down. If you have excessive play, your shaft is most likely shot and the hub is flopping up and down as you drive. If that's the case, the splined hole in the cv hub may have gotten reamed out as well.

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[tjkj2002]

Am I understanding right in that I can take out one or both half-shafts for diagnostic purposes and not lose diff oil?

Not unless you plug the holes were the axles came out of.

 

[PonypuffPrincess]

Does it look like it's leaning noticeably downhill compared to the axle housing? Grab the hub and try to push it up and down. If you have excessive play, your shaft is most likely shot and the hub is flopping up and down as you drive. If that's the case, the splined hole in the cv hub may have gotten reamed out as well.

Yes and yes.

So I understand to replace the intermediate shaft if the splines are worn, and maybe the half-shaft too if the splines are worn. But what of the intermediate shaft housing and bearings? I'm not thrilled about replacing the one in the diff, but is there a bearing to consider replacing at the end of the intermediate shaft housing too? I can't see where the shaft would go without taking out the bearing with it......

 

[PonypuffPrincess]

Not unless you plug the holes were the axles came out of.

Thanks. Hoping against hope to just drive around without plugs.

 

[TwoBobsKJ]

Yes and yes.

So I understand to replace the intermediate shaft if the splines are worn, and maybe the half-shaft too if the splines are worn. But what of the intermediate shaft housing and bearings? I'm not thrilled about replacing the one in the diff, but is there a bearing to consider replacing at the end of the intermediate shaft housing too? I can't see where the shaft would go without taking out the bearing with it......

Once you take out the cv axle the intermediate shaft simply pops out of the diff. You may need to attach vice grips to the end of the shaft to get a good grip. It is only held into the diff with a c-clip just as it is in the cv axle hub. It is not typical for the diff bearings to go bad.

Bob

 

[Luke]

You may need to attach vice grips to the end of the shaft to get a good grip.

a chisel tip pry bar works well in the C-clip groove :waytogo: just a quick pop.

 

[tommudd]

Thanks. Hoping against hope to just drive around without plugs.

Not a big deal just stick a rag in the end if not dirt etc can get in, gear oil out

If the splinea are bad on the intermediate shaft replace the CV as well. Both are fairly reasonable. Rebuilt CVs from NAPA , do not use ones from the junk auto parts stores